The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-01-08
AT THE PARTY.
How the Schoolmistress Healed a
=, Heart-Breach.

Miss Hildreth turned the KEY in the door
of the little log school house, and started
homeward. The low, fast-reddening sun
warned her that she had no time to lose, for
II good mile lay before her, and along the
ridge-road the snow was deep She walked
briskly, having sense of citation at the
wonderful calm beauty that surrounded
her, and keener enjoyment of the un-
wonted solitude, for her host, Abe Barnes,
though the most well-to-do man IN the ''dee-
:strick," had eight children and half as
many rooms, and she was literally never
alone, except when, through an irresistible
craving for solitude, she forcibly elected
her adoring and tactless roommate, Sabiny
Nav.
A quarter of a mile further her own firm,
buoyant step was lost in the sound of a
heavier tread, and just in front, though at
an angle so that he did not notice her, man
emerged from the side-path in the thicket
She walked lightly, from an instinct that
her feeling of perfect freedom would cease
if another were conscious of her presence
and was little startled when the young
man stopped and half turned as though he
had known she was following and had
decided to wait for her. This apparently
was the case, for after an embarrassed
salutation he said abruptly:
''Rickettses lows to have a play party to-
night, an me an Jack Martins distributin'
the word, an lowed to go on to Uncle
Abe's an give you bid, tell l heard you
coming up"
He stopped, and the teacher expressed
her thanks and was about to pass on when
with an awkward jerk of his voice, he pro
ceeded:
EFF your comp'ny amt spoke fur, I'd like
to fetch over the gray fur you to ride. Rick
ettses amt to say fur, but | low you amt
much of ham to walk
He glanced at the small shapely feet as
no spoke, and then at his own, which he
shuffled uneasily.
Il amt never been made 'quainted with
you, an that's fac, but I've knowed you
was Miss Nellie Hildreth three weeks come
Sunday"
She smiled inwardly at the adiyete of the
introduction
"You are Mr. Mote Barnes, I suppose
she said, remembering his reference tC
uncle Abe.
That's my name; I lowed you knowed
me- what with UNI always gabbin' bout
Mote over to uncle Abe's, and along OF
seein' me at Martins corn-shuckin', an
-singin's, an one thing mother"
1t would have appeared incredible to him
chat she had not noticed him and asked his
name, for he was king among the young
people on Hickory Ridge-the envy of his
sex, who knew that whatever girl ''Mote
Barnes was a-talxn' to" considered herself
worthy Of unusual respect.
She knew the sensitiveness of the people
with whom she had to deal, and that tC
show the first symptoms of being proud, y
as they invariably termed it, would be tc
forfeit her popularity as teacher; while q
slight to Mote would be setting the whole
Barnes connection in arms against her. Sc
when he repeated, ''Will I fetch over the
grays" she merely said 80, yes" and went
on her way, thinking what pity it was
that face so full of natural intelligence
should be almost devoid of thought Mote
meanwhile, had not moved. He stood lost
an admiration, and in wonder at his own ad
miration, gazing at the 1.-THE young figure
that was fast retreating down the meadow
path.
''Sakest she's spry walker, an mo- n
that she's plegged good-lookin'," he muir
INJURED, half aloud, as he turned to continue
mis- journey. ''She jes' somehow pears tc
suit me.n
A little back from the road stood the only
house in sight, built of rough logs, unwhite
washed, yet home-lilSe and inviting. Before
this house Mote paused, then took ster
forward, and finally came to dead stop, Q
look OF annoyance, and almost embarrass
ment, on his face. In truth, he was greatly
perplexed. He had undertaken to invite
Tharp's folks, and would be able to give nc
satisfactory reason for not fulfilling his
promise; yet, how could he face Sereny
with the consciousness that Miss Hildreth
was going to ride the gray to the play
party For over year there had not beer
a social gathering of any kind at which he
and Sereny had not been present together
He hardly thought he was in love with her
he had been so secure in his sway ovei
female hearts that he had never taken the
trouble to fall in love. But he had vaguely
expected to marry Sereny; she was the
prettiest girl on the Ridge, sam powerful
han to work. and she adored him.
"Why, Motel" she cried, running out t.
the fence as she saw him lay hand upor
the rail, ''you was natG ally the las person
was a-lookin' fur. Nerve Taylor said as
how you was strippin' tobacco for 'Squal
Dean.n
"Nerve war powerful KNOWN to low any
body could strip tobacco sech weather a.
this" ~ 'sto5 id, brusqucly. - wonder